2016-17 NBA Season Preview: Denver Nuggets
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
Denver Nuggets
2015-16
| Record | Northwest | West | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33-49 | 4th | 11th | N/A |
Offseason Roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| D.J. Kennedy (3-year deal) | Joffrey Lauvergne (OKC) |
| Nate Wolters (minimum) | D.J. Augustin (CHI)(4/$29M) |
| Jamal Murray (draft) | |
| Malik Beasley (draft) | |
| Juan Hernangomez (draft) |
- Re-signed Darrell Arthur (3/$23M)
- Re-signed Mike Miller (2/$7M)
Projected Starting 5
- PG Emmanuel Mudiay
- SG Gary Harris
- SF Danilo Gallinari
- PF Kenneth Faried
- C Nikola Jokic
Player to watch: Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets appear to have found a steal in 21-year-old center Nikola Jokic.
Chosen with the 41st pick of the 2014 draft, Jokic shone during his first season in the Association, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting behind fellow newcomers Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis.
While 2015 first-rounder Emmanuel Mudiay struggled in the early going for Denver, Jokic looked NBA-ready from Day 1, quickly asserting himself as the best big man on the Nuggets' roster.
Jokic's counting stats certainly weren't eye-popping, but a deeper dive into his numbers shows just how pertinent he was to Denver's success.
Not only did Jokic lead all rookies in win shares per 48 minutes (.185), but he finished 17th in the entire league, ranking above All-Stars Paul Millsap, Isaiah Thomas, and Jimmy Butler.
His on/off figures were also impressive for a player his age, as the Nuggets performed nearly nine points per 100 possessions better with the Serbian on the court.
Should Jokic continue to develop during his sophomore season, the Nuggets could possibly make a run at the No. 8 spot in the West.
Season Expectations
Despite missing out on the playoffs for the third straight season, the Nuggets were one of the least active players in free agency this summer, serving as one of the few teams that chose to save its money instead of taking advantage of the rising salary cap.
As a result, Denver enters the 2016-17 campaign with virtually the same rotation as the year prior - a group that hovered around mediocrity for much of last season. The Nuggets could still see an improvement upon last season's mark with the same core, but would need to stay healthy and hope some of their younger players continue to develop in order to do so.
Injuries plagued Denver dearly in 2015-16, as the Nuggets missed a total of 240 games due to various afflictions, according to mangameslost.com. 2014-15 starters Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler alone combined for a total of 111 games missed, playing a large part in Denver's 11th-place finish.
An improved season from Mudiay could help shore up Denver's point guard problems and help ignite an offense that finished 20th in efficiency last season, while big seasons from Jokic and fellow big man Jusuf Nurkic could give the Nuggets one of the best 1-2 center punches in the league.
The Nuggets certainly have the young talent to one day become a playoff contender in a loaded Western Conference, but are likely still a year or two away from reaching the playoffs.